Rising number of Dutch civil servants refuse to serve every government unconditionally

A growing number of Dutch civil servants say they are no longer willing to serve every government without conditions, citing concerns about democratic values, human rights, and the political direction under the Cabinet-Schoof.

According to a new survey by Ipsos I&O commissioned by Binnenlands Bestuur, only 30 percent of Dutch civil servants in May said they could and wanted to serve any government, regardless of who is in power. That’s down from 36 percent in September 2024, before the formation of the Cabinet-Schoof. At the same time, the percentage of civil servants who explicitly do not want to serve all governments rose slightly to 37 percent.

“Civil servants seem to have a strong awareness of their own moral boundaries,” Ipsos researcher Charlotte van Miltenburg said in the press release. “Those boundaries naturally differ between individuals. Even those who do want to serve any government say it must remain within ethical and democratic limits.”

Many civil servants who reject serving any government say their willingness depends on whether the administration respects democracy, human rights, and public interest. Some say they are prepared to resist, refuse work, or even resign if a government violates constitutional norms, discriminates, or governs at the expense of citizens.

“If the government acts at the expense of the public interest and the citizen’s welfare, I am not willing to serve that government,” one respondent said. “My moral values and principles come before serving a government.” Another civil servant noted, “I do not want to be a lackey for radical right-wing.”

Roughly one in five civil servants reported that the Schoof cabinet has already changed how they can or must do their jobs. Respondents cited budget cuts, unclear policies, and a more aggressive political tone. “Because of a 22 percent staff reduction, I can no longer perform all the tasks I should,” one municipal civil servant wrote.

Others pointed to contradictions and uncertainty in national policy that are affecting their work. “Goals become truly unattainable and out of sight,” one respondent said.

Civil servants also noted shifting political priorities in areas such as climate, agriculture, culture, and nature protection, as well as an increasingly polarized public atmosphere. One respondent said, “The debate hardens under this cabinet’s influence; there is also less respect for the human dimension from society.”

Some expressed frustration that professional advice is being ignored, with their roles reduced to what one described as a “paid opinion factory,” eroding trust in science and in government institutions.

Despite growing dissatisfaction, few civil servants are resigning over the cabinet’s policies. About one in five said they are staying in their roles specifically to maintain influence from within.

However, confidence in the cabinet’s ability to deliver on key goals is eroding. In September 2024, 35 percent of civil servants said they doubted the government would succeed in building more homes. That number climbed to nearly 60 percent by May 2025.